Michael Lorenzen's Stats, Metrics, Game Logs, Projections & Rankings

Free-agent right-hander Michael Lorenzen has inked a one-year, $4.5 million deal with the Texas Rangers, pending a physical. The deal includes $2.5 million in incentives which could potentially bring the pact to a total of $7 million. The veteran spent the 2023 season between the Tigers and Phillies, earning his first All-Star appearance in the process. Lorenzen worked to a 3.58 ERA across 18 starts with the Tigers before being flipped to the Phillies where he limped to a 5.51 ERA across 11 appearances, the final four of which were relief outings. He tossed a no-hitter against the Nationals in August but largely scuffled upon the move. The 32-year-old owns a career 4.11 ERA across 342 outings (69 starts) while his upcoming usage with the Rangers is unknown at this time.

Free-agent right-hander Michael Lorenzen threw 70 pitches on Sunday, getting up and down four times while also hitting 94 to 96 mph with his fastball on the radar gun, according to a report viewed by The Athletic. The 32-year-old veteran remains without a team with Opening Day quickly approaching, despite the fact that he threw a no-hitter with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2023. If Lorenzen does sign with a team soon, he should be pretty stretched out despite not facing actual competition in spring training. Both the Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees have obvious needs in their starting rotations and have reportedly been considering signing Lorenzen. The former first-rounder of the Reds in 2013 out of Fullerton made his first career All-Star team in 2023 but struggled late in the year and was demoted to the bullpen in Philadelphia.

The New York Yankees have checked in on free-agent right-hander Michael Lorenzen. The Chicago White Sox, who just traded ace Dylan Cease to the San Diego Padres on Wednesday night, are another team in play for Lorenzen. Chicago also just moved righty Michael Kopech to the bullpen. The Yankees are going to be without reigning American League Cy Young winner Gerrit Cole (elbow) for at least one to two months and potentially longer to open the 2024 regular season, so they could certainly use some rotation help. The 32-year-old Lorenzen tossed a no-hitter in 2023 after being traded from the Tigers to the Phillies, but he ultimately had a 5.51 ERA and 1.46 WHIP in 11 appearances (seven starts) for the Phils and ended the year out of the rotation in the postseason. Lorenzen's low strikeout numbers don't make him very attractive for fantasy, which would especially be the case if he landed in the Bronx.

The New York Mets have recently checked in on free-agent starting pitchers, including right-hander Michael Lorenzen, according to league sources. However, the communication likely reflects a desire to stay connected if they have another injury rather than imminent, serious interest. New York's top starter, Kodai Senga, has already been shut down for three weeks due to a strain in the back of his shoulder. FanGraphs projects the Mets to have the sixth-worst rotation in the majors, so adding more pitching depth would be a good idea. They are banking on a bounce-back from Luis Severino and steps forward from Sean Manaea and Tylor Megill. Other options to beef up the rotation besides Lorenzen include lefties Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery and righty Mike Clevinger.

There are reportedly still a handful of teams interested in signing free-agent pitcher Michael Lorenzen. The veteran is one of the better free-agent arms remaining on the market as he can pitch as a starter or out of the bullpen, both of which he did last season. Lorenzen posted a 3.58 ERA across 18 starts with the Tigers last season, earning his first career All-Star appearance in the process. He was then traded to the Phillies at the trade deadline, and while he threw his first career no-hitter in August, he also struggled to a 5.51 ERA with the Phils, making his final four appearances out of the bullpen. The 32-year-old owns a career 4.11 ERA in 342 big-league appearances (69 starts) and 724 innings of work.